Nora Neumann Lesson Title: K is for Keystone Erdenheim Elementary Grade Level: 4th Grade Time: 40 Minute Lesson
1. Pre-Instructional Planning This is a forty minute lesson planned for the 4th grade. The 4th grade is studying the state of Pennsylvania in their classroom. This is a two week lesson designed to compliment what students are learning in their class. a. Planning Team: This lesson was designed by Judy High and Nora Neumann. b. Student Group: As stated this is a 4th grade lesson about the state of Pennsylvania. The class contains 20 students. One student has an IEP; he needs learning support and has a one on one aid. c. Lesson Title: K is for Keystone d. PA K-12 Academic Standards – Speaking & Listening 1.6 e. AASL 21st Century Reading/Information Literacy Standards - Inquire, Think Critically, and Gain Knowledge Skills 1.1.2, 1.1.3. 1.3.1 Draw Conclusions, Make Informed Decisions, Apply Knowledge to New Situations, and Create New Knowledge – 2.1.1, 2.1.3 Pursue Personal and Aesthetic Growth – 4.1.1
2. Objectives: As a result of today’s lesson 4th grade students will be able to identify and write in their own words two facts from their letter page, develop a question about their person, place or thing and make an educated guess as to the questions answer.
3. Materials: Smart board, laminated pages from the book K is for Keystone by Kristen Kane, worksheets and pencils.
4. Lesson Activities: a. Introduction: Librarian greets students at the door. Hello 4th grade. Follow me to the tables”. b. Developmental Activities: 1. “Hello and how are you today? Today we’re going to continue learning about the state of Pennsylvania. On each of the tables there is a laminated paper and a worksheet. Take one of each now. Put your name on the worksheet. When you’ve done that put your pencil down and look at me”. 2. “You may recognize the laminated letter sheets from the book we read last week. What you are going to do is read your letter sheet and write two facts on your worksheet. The 1st fact will come from the 1st paragraph and the 2nd fact will come from the 2nd paragraph. I have the letter A. In my case A is for Amish. Listen while I read my 1st paragraph because we’re going to do this together and you’re going to help me find my fact”. 3. After reading the 1st paragraph ask students, “Who can tell me a fact from what I just read”? 4. Discuss the various responses and pick one fact. Write the fact on the Smart board which shows a copy of the worksheet. 5. Ask students, “Should my fact be taken word for word from the page” Why not”? Do mini lesson on plagiarism. 6. Repeat with 2nd paragraph using my A is for Amish page as an example. 7. “Now do you see on your worksheet where it says question? This is when you get to ask whatever you want. If there is something that you are still curious about after you have read your letter page write it down. If you have a ‘What if’ question or a ‘How did it feel’ question whatever type of question you want write it down. For example, if you were walking down the street and you ran into an Amish man or woman or child and you could ask them anything what would you ask that person”? 8. Discuss various answers. Pick a question and write it on the Smart board. 9. “Now what do you suppose their answer to this might be? What do you guess their answer would be? Do you know what an educated guess is”? Discuss. “Here is where you are going to make an educated guess as to what the answer to your question might be. There is no write or wrong answer. Any answer is okay”? 10. “What do you suppose the answer to my question is”? Discuss and write answer on the Smart board. 11. “Now you are going to do the same thing with your letter pages. First read the paragraphs and come up with two facts. Then move on to your question and answer. Raise your hand if you need help. Begin”. 12. Circulate around tables helping those who raise their hands, checking on all students. 13. After several minutes, “Now we’re going to share your questions and answers. Raises your hand if you; like to share. First tell us your letter, what it was for then your question and your answer”. c. Closure 14. “You have all done a fantastic job today. You’ve worked hard to pick out your facts and you have all stretched your imagination to think of a question and an answer”. 15. “As I’ve said Pennsylvania is a great state filled with rich culture, landscape and people. 16. Students Assessment Activities – Assessment is ongoing at the beginning of the lesson and at the end of the lesson during the closure. I am seeing who responds to the various questions that are asked regarding facts, questions and answers. 17. Please put your worksheets in one pile and your letter pages in another pile. Push your chairs in and you may go select your books”.
Bibliography Kane, Kristin. K is for Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet. MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2003.
Lesson Title: K is for Keystone
Erdenheim Elementary
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Time: 40 Minute Lesson
1. Pre-Instructional Planning
This is a forty minute lesson planned for the 4th grade. The 4th grade is studying the state of Pennsylvania in their
classroom. This is a two week lesson designed to compliment what students are learning in their class.
a. Planning Team: This lesson was designed by Judy High and Nora Neumann.
b. Student Group: As stated this is a 4th grade lesson about the state of Pennsylvania. The class
contains 20 students. One student has an IEP; he needs learning support and has a one on one aid.
c. Lesson Title: K is for Keystone
d. PA K-12 Academic Standards – Speaking & Listening 1.6
e. AASL 21st Century Reading/Information Literacy Standards -
Inquire, Think Critically, and Gain Knowledge Skills 1.1.2, 1.1.3. 1.3.1
Draw Conclusions, Make Informed Decisions, Apply Knowledge to New Situations, and Create New Knowledge –
2.1.1, 2.1.3
Pursue Personal and Aesthetic Growth – 4.1.1
2. Objectives:
As a result of today’s lesson 4th grade students will be able to identify and write in their own words two facts from
their letter page, develop a question about their person, place or thing and make an educated guess as to the
questions answer.
3. Materials: Smart board, laminated pages from the book K is for Keystone by Kristen Kane,
worksheets and pencils.
4. Lesson Activities:
a. Introduction: Librarian greets students at the door. Hello 4th grade. Follow me to the
tables”.
b. Developmental Activities:
1. “Hello and how are you today? Today we’re going to continue learning
about the state of Pennsylvania. On each of the tables there is a laminated paper and a worksheet. Take one
of each now. Put your name on the worksheet. When you’ve done that put your pencil down and look at
me”.
2. “You may recognize the laminated letter sheets from the book we
read last week. What you are going to do is read your letter sheet and write two facts on your worksheet.
The 1st fact will come from the 1st paragraph and the 2nd fact will come from the 2nd paragraph. I have
the letter A. In my case A is for Amish. Listen while I read my 1st paragraph because we’re going to do this
together and you’re going to help me find my fact”.
3. After reading the 1st paragraph ask students, “Who can tell me a fact from what I just read”?
4. Discuss the various responses and pick one fact. Write the fact on the Smart board which shows a copy of
the worksheet.
5. Ask students, “Should my fact be taken word for word from the page” Why not”? Do mini lesson on
plagiarism.
6. Repeat with 2nd paragraph using my A is for Amish page as an example.
7. “Now do you see on your worksheet where it says question? This is when you get to ask whatever you
want. If there is something that you are still curious about after you have read your letter page write it
down. If you have a ‘What if’ question or a ‘How did it feel’ question whatever type of question you want
write it down. For example, if you were walking down the street and you ran into an Amish man or woman
or child and you could ask them anything what would you ask that person”?
8. Discuss various answers. Pick a question and write it on the Smart board.
9. “Now what do you suppose their answer to this might be? What do you guess their answer would be? Do
you know what an educated guess is”? Discuss. “Here is where you are going to make an educated guess as
to what the answer to your question might be. There is no write or wrong answer. Any answer is okay”?
10. “What do you suppose the answer to my question is”? Discuss and write answer on the Smart board.
11. “Now you are going to do the same thing with your letter pages. First read the paragraphs and come up
with two facts. Then move on to your question and answer. Raise your hand if you need help. Begin”.
12. Circulate around tables helping those who raise their hands, checking on all students.
13. After several minutes, “Now we’re going to share your questions and answers. Raises your hand if you;
like to share. First tell us your letter, what it was for then your question and your answer”.
c. Closure
14. “You have all done a fantastic job today. You’ve worked hard to pick out your facts and you have all
stretched your imagination to think of a question and an answer”.
15. “As I’ve said Pennsylvania is a great state filled with rich culture, landscape and people.
16. Students Assessment Activities – Assessment is ongoing at the beginning of the lesson and at the end of
the lesson during the closure. I am seeing who responds to the various questions that are asked regarding
facts, questions and answers.
17. Please put your worksheets in one pile and your letter pages in another pile. Push your chairs in and you
may go select your books”.
Bibliography
Kane, Kristin. K is for Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet. MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2003.